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Movement and Exercise

Ask a Trainer: Should I Use Free Weights or Machines?

Brittany DoohanBrian Clista, MD
Written by Brittany Doohan | Reviewed by Brian Clista, MD
Updated on October 2, 2025
Featuring Holly RilingerReviewed by Brian Clista, MD | October 2, 2025

Both machines and free weights are resistance training, says Holly Rilinger, Nike master trainer and author in New York City. No single exercise or piece of equipment is best for everyone. Choosing between free weights and weight machines will depend on personal preference, your fitness level, and your fitness goals, but both are effective forms of strength training.

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Brittany Doohan
Written by:
Brittany Doohan
Brittany Doohan was the Content Director at HealthiNation and is currently the Editorial Director at Medscape. Through her work with Medscape, she won a Silver Telly Award in May 2022 for "Sleepless Nation: A Public Health Epidemic — Episode 2: A Decade Without a Diagnosis." She has worked in health journalism and video production for more than 8 years, and loves the challenge of explaining complex topics in an easy-to-understand and creative way.
Brian Clista, MD
Reviewed by:
Brian Clista, MD
Dr. Clista is a board-certified pediatrician who works in private practice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He previously served as a National Health Service Corporation Scholar in the inner city of Pittsburgh for 11 years.

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